Working in Guernsey - Tax implications

Lizzit,

I have been asked to interview for a position with a company based in Guernsey.  As a US Citizen, does Guernsey fall under the UK - US Treaty?  If not, are there other ways to avoid double (US and Guernsey) taxation?  Guernsey's tax rate is low - 20% - but if I have to pay US taxes too then it probably wouldn't make any sense for me to go for this job.

Thanks for your help

Big_Ed

This is an open forum.  If you wish to take professional advice from Lizzit then I suggest that you contact her directly; provide her with proof of identity and address so that she can comply with UK money laundering requirements and sign whatever terms of engagement she will provide to you.

I cannot advise at all if you have Lizzit advising, since this would contravene the ethical rules of several of the professional bodies that my firm belongs to.

Guya,

What exactly is your problem??

I addressed my question to Lizzit because she, from what I can gather, is the ad-hoc moderator of the board, much as Helen was a few years back.  She has provided evidence of her credentials on this board and her advice has always been sound.  I have never professionally hired Lizzit for her services – why you would jump to this conclusion is beyond me.

You – on the other hand – have never presented your credentials on this board (at least not that I have seen).  On numerous occasions, you have not only given out information which was blatantly incorrect, but you have also done so in a manner that was condescending to both Lizzit and to other posters on this board.  So, if I have unintentionally insulted you by posting this to Lizzit, I’m sorry, but you really must get over yourself.

Now, if ANYONE can help me with my question without, as guya suggests, breaking some international money laundering law, your input would be greatly appreciated.

Dear Big_Ed

I did not know that Lizzit was the moderator on this forum; nor is her advice always sound in every circumstance; any more than mine or yours might be.

Lizzit is - in my opinion - an excellent and practical US tax adviser.  She falls down a little in that I believe she is not qualified to advise in the UK so won't know every interaction between the US and the UK, or every nuance of UK tax rules.

I certainly do not give out information that is incorrect.  I give my opinion, as do all of the others who contribute to all of UK-Yankee boards.

Lizzit may be able to assist inyour question of today, but that is both a business and business risk choice for her to make on behalf of her business.  Similarly I make business risk decisions as to what my firm is capable to advise on.  If you already have appointed an adviser then UK best practice rules I mentioned earlier (laid out by the ICAEW) require that I (or Lizzit) approach that other adviser before we could comment.

I now understand that you have not appointed Lizzit professionally - although I did not know this from your earlier post as this was addressed to her directly. 

Complying with identification requirements for money-laundering compliance purposes is standard practice in the UK that all advisers, including Lizzit, have to deal with every day.  The issue here is that if the adviser fails to identify the client, then the adviser may be sent to jail.

Lizzit has a sound and great sense of humour; she also seems to implicitly understand and enjoy the great British traditions of badinage and irony.  If you find these condescending then please ... please try to relax! 

guya,

The "relax" comment was an unnecessary end to what was until then a reasonable and well thought out post.

I guess I am not fond of an English tradition that allows one to make belittling and insulting comments and then label it as humour, but it is what it is.

I will try and seek help elsewhere.

Regards

I will try and seek help elsewhere.

Well, that might be some good advice actually.  Taking ad-hoc advice from individuals on a message board is probablly not good when it comes to tax situations.  It is only us the gets screwed if we get bad tax advice! 

Having been offline for a while, handling Important Tax Work; I can safely add:

1)  I am not the moderator; I just like to stem the tide of "helpful" wrong advice, same as Guya does.
2)  I agree, I don't like the concept of belittling as "joking", but Guya's not quite in that territory.  More confident (with every reason to be; he clearly knows his stuff) than belittling, I'd say.  Certainly, Guya's never crossed the line into insults or I would have complained to the head of the Forums.
3)  I've been trying to guess Guya's secret daytime identity ever since his (or her) first post...  It's a good game at this point.  I know for sure we must have met at taxation meetings and that sort of thing.  I thought I had it sussed at one point, but dang it, if when I asked that person point-blank to his face, he said it wasn't him.  The real question is, was the person who said no actually Guya and pulling my leg?  Or did I have the wrong guess?  So few clues...  So many tax preparers to choose from.